The Great MidlandOne of the most compelling and sympathetic novels ever to portray the lives of American Communist activists, The Great Midland is a story of love and radical politics set in the years prior to World War II. It was published in 1948, just as cold war hysteria engulfed the United States; the embarrassed publisher subsequently tried to pretend the book didn't exist, and review media and bookstores ignored it. In an introduction written for this edition, Alexander Saxton reveals that he does not regret having been a Communist, even though his political convictions cost him job opportunities. The book vividly depicts the multiracial and multiethnic alliances that developed as Chicago railroad workers struggled to organize and the attempts of those thrown out of work to avoid eviction. A fascinating example of "cross-gendered writing", the novel presents some of its narrative through the complex consciousness of a young, first-generation Polish-American woman, Stephanie Koviak. |
Contents
Editors Note | ix |
The Old Left and CrossGendered Writing | xi |
Introduction | xv |
To Constance Coiner | xxix |
The Great Midland | xxxi |
The First War | 1 |
The New Year 1939 | 29 |
The Prosperous Years | 57 |
The University | 93 |
The Embankment | 125 |
Richmond Court | 181 |
The Wheel Pit | 277 |
The Second War | 329 |
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Common terms and phrases
Andrew Masters Ann Spaas Ardwick began boxcars brother Chicago Chile Parlor coach cleaners coffee cops corner crowd Dave asked Dave followed Dave Spaas Dave's detective Morgan door dropped Eddie embankment engine eyes face feel feet felt fight front girl glanced going guerite guess Halsted Street hands Hanson Hawkins heard Jarvis Johnny kitchen knew Koviak laughing Leeds light listen Lodge looked Ludington Marguerite Martin Midland midnight express Milwaukee Avenue mind Morgan moved Negro never night nodded Paddy Gallagher pulled railroad Rita Roman Rosa roundhouse Ruby Salvivi shook his head shoulders shouted snow stared Stephanie asked Stephanie's steps Stevie Stony Island Avenue stood stopped street streetcar supper talk tell things thought told took tracks train shed trying turned Uncle Jennison union Victor voice waiting walked watched What's window yard